OBSCURA – Akroasis (2016)

Five years after “Omnivium” came out, the Germans of OBSCURA release its inheritor, the fourth album in their discography – “Akroasis”. Meanwhile, ¾ of the line-up have been renewed – alongside the immutable leader Steffen Kummerer, the bassist Linus Klausenitzer (in 2011), the drummer Sebastian Lanser (in 2014) and the second guitarist Raffael Trujillo (in 2015) got on board. Judging by the final result, these changes hasn’t had a negative effect on the band – the fresh replacements are no less brilliant musicians than thе previous ones. The same definition – “no less brilliant”- we can аfford to refer to “Akroasis” as well. I wouldn’t say OBSCURA have surpassed their own bar (which is a serious challenge itself), but they have placed it pretty high again – the compositions, mind-blowing as always, are here, but if we have to compare them to those from “Omnivium”, then they are a little more melodic and someway… warmer and more human, despite the performance‘s not-so-human precision. Probably this is the step taking “Akroasis” to the next level.

Rating: 9/10